Bagel bakery vandalised twice in two weeks

THE owner of a Belsize Park bakery hit by vandals twice in two weeks has called for a bigger police presence in the area.

Alon Kubi, who runs Roni’s Bagel Bakery in Belsize Lane, said his window was smashed in the early hours of Friday, a week after a similar attack on the shop.

He told the New Journal: “After it happened the second time, I started to think someone out there was against us. It seems like someone was targeting the shop even though we haven’t had a dispute with anyone. Mr Kubi said the business lost £20,000 due to the damage. The water supply outside the front of the shop had also been found filled with cement, which Mr Kubi said “shows it wasn’t just any old person acting quickly.”

Mr Kubi said he had reported the attack to police but “they said they didn’t have the time to come”. He said that some of his customers had feared the attack was motivated by anti-semitism.

“They feel unsafe,” he said. “For me – it was vandalism.”

Residents and businesses are now fighting to get CCTV, and the shop is getting shutters fitted next week. “It’s a shame we need to put shutters in. We don’t feel protected,” said Mr Kubi. “If I was a criminal I would come here every day. I would like to see CCTV and more police around here. I want to see they are doing something. How can you come to a place in a civilised country, a Western country and for this to happen?”

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “The Belsize Safer Neighbourhoods Team [SNT] have subsequently increased patrols in the area. The SNT team in the neighbouring Frognal and Fitzjohns ward continue to hold regular drop-in surgeries at business premises within Belsize Village where residents and workers are able to come and speak to local officers about any issues.”